Curtain-fixture for open cars.



No. 884,480. "PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

' G. E. GILMAN.

CURTAIN FIXTURE FOR OPEN CARS. APPLIOATION FILED 00129, 1907.

WW m u W Q ///fi/ /-%m 511 venloz fee 61. QJ/mav THE NORRIS PETER? 50-, WISHINGTDN, D- C.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

GEORGE E. GILMAN, OF WEST NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE FOR OPEN CARS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. GILMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Newbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures for Open Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway cars and particularly to curtain fixtures which are especially adapted for use between the side posts of that type of cars commonly known as open street cars.

To this end the invention particularly has in view the provision of certain novel and practical improvements upon the construction of curtain fixture for cars disclosed and covered by my former patent No. 787,841. In this connection, the invention contemplates an improved construction which insures the better working of the curtain, not only as to the matter of the guiding thereof between the side posts, but also as toits retention in any adjusted position so as to prevent the displacement thereof from such position by heavy vibration or jars.

IVith these and other objects in view which will more readily appear to those familiar with the art, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which exemplify the preferred embodiment of the improvement, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an open street car equipped with a curtain fixture embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end portion of one of the side posts and the lower end portion of the curtain and its base board, illustrating more fully the operative positions and mounting of the sliding catch springs and the extension guide brackets. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the bottom edge portion of the curtain taken on the section line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view of one of the side posts of the car body.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

As indicated in the former patent aforesaid, the im rovements contemplated herein are applicab e to any of the ordinary types of open street cars embodying in-their organization, as shown in the drawings, the floor 1, a roof section 2, the transversely arranged Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1907.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Serial No. 399,710.

seats 3, and a series of upright side posts 4, extending from the floor to the said roof section, and which side posts are arranged at the ends of the seats.

A feature of the present invention resides in constructing the side posts 4 so as to extend down to and referably below the plane of the floor 1 an also arranging said side posts in a plane wholly outside of the ends of the seats and the supports therefor. Furthermore, the side posts are formed in their opposing edges with deep guiding grooves 5 extending longitudinally from end to end of the post and slidably receiving therein the opposite side edges of the flexible curtain body 6, which is designed to cover and uncover the passageway provided for between the opposing side posts.

The curtain body made up of the usual flexible sheet portion is arranged to wind and unwind upon an ordinary type of spring actuated roller 7 mounted in suitable hangers within the roof section 2 of the car body, said roller subserving its ordinary function of pro viding a lifting means for the curtain to facilitate the raising thereof. One of the practical parts of the curtain fixture is the equipment of the curtain body at its bottom edge with a wide base board 8 constituting the bottom section of the curtain. This base board 8 is desi ned to be connected with the bottom edge 0 the curtain body by means of any suitable thoroughly weatherproof connection 9 such as described and illustrated in my former patent, but irrespective of the character of the connection 9, it will, of course, be understood that the base board may be constructed of any desired or necessary width and may be formed either solid or hollow. Also, the said board is preferably fitted with the inner and outer lifting buttons 10 and 11 respectively, and also has projected from its inner side a stop pin 12 adapted to engage with the floor of the car when the curtain is entirely lowered. When in such position, the base board overlaps and projects a material distance below the level of the floor 1, thus providing an effective weatherboard which excludes wind and rain.

As shown in the drawings, the ends of the base board 8 project into and slide within the guiding groove 5 of the opposing side posts 4, and in order to secure an effective and steady gluiding of the board in the said groove 5 at a 1 times and under all conditions, the present invention contemplates fitting the said board at its opposite ends with extension guide brackets 13. These brackets are preferably arranged at the bottom corners of the base board and each consists essentially of an angle iron having a horizontal attaching arm 14 secured by bolts or rivets 15, or equivalent fastening means, to the body of the base board, and a pendent slide arm 16 projecting a material distance below the bottom edge of the base board and sliding within the grooves 5. 'Also, each end of the base board 8 is fitted with a sliding catch spring 17 having a rounded engaging end 18 slidably interlocking with the depressions or seats of a corrugated keeper bar or strip 19 seated in the bottom of the guiding groove 5 receiving said spring. Each groove 5 is similarly equipped with a bar 18.

In the preferable construction shown, the base board 8 is of hollow formation, and may be of either metal or wood. When of hollow formation, the arms 14 of the extension "guide brackets are inserted Within the open ends of the base board, and the fast ends of the spring 17 may be conveniently secured u on the said arms 14 by the fastenings 15. T e slide arms 16 of the brackets extend the eflective guiding bearing for the ends of the base board, while the springs 17 and strips 18 check and hold the curtain against displacement from any adjusted position.

In carrying'out the invention it will be noted that minor details in the form, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, such for instance as arranging the curtain to operate inside as well as outside of the ends of the seats .and, also without departing from the invention, it will be understood that the extension guide brackets 13 may be secured in different positions and difierent Ways to the base board so long as the necessary operative relation is preserved to the corrugated keeper bar or strip 19. Other similar variations may be resorted to without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

In a curtain fixture for cars, the car body having side posts provided with guiding grooves and corrugated keeper bars therein, a flexible curtain carrying at its bottom edge a rigid base board, angle extension guide I brac rets having horizontal attaching arms disposed within the ends of the base board, and catch springs slidably interlocking with the corru ations of the keeper bars and secured to the base board by the fastenings for the attaching arms of said angle brackets.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. GILMAN.

Witnesses:

DAVID P. PAGE, CHARLES G. PRAY. 

